'Terrified' passenger lands plane

Passenger who landed plane 'nothing short of a hero'

A friend of the passenger who landed a plane after the pilot was taken ill said he was "nothing short of a hero".

Richard Tomlinson, who was also a friend of the pilot, told BBC Radio Sheffield, "For somebody who is not a pilot but has been around airfields and been a passenger on several occasions to take control is nothing short of phenomenal."

A view of the Cessna 172 light aircraft which the passenger landed at Humberside Airport. Credit: Richard McCarthy/PA Wire

Mr Tomlinson said the man who died was a very experienced pilot.

He continued: "Only this week I was sat having a cup of tea and airfield banter [with both men].

"They were both very funny gentlemen to have a conversation with. "It is very, very sad news."